Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are a growing area of concern in schools across England. With over 1.6 million pupils identified as having special educational needs, the recent Department for Education data highlights an 11.6% rise in the number of children with Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plans since 2023. However, the system faces significant challenges, with many children waiting years for assessments and support.
Sadly, delays in assessing SEND needs and issuing EHC plans leave many children at risk of falling through the cracks.
The Scale of the Problem
According to the 2024 SEN report, nearly 434,354 pupils in England now have EHC plans, representing 4.8% of all students. A further 13.6% receive SEN support without an EHC plan. However, accessing these crucial services is far from straightforward.
In some areas of the UK, children face delays of up to two years for a neurodevelopmental assessment and, shockingly, up to 10 years for specialist services after a diagnosis. These delays can leave children and their families in limbo, struggling to cope without appropriate resources or guidance.
The effects of these delays are far-reaching:
- Increased Risk of Exploitation: Children with SEND are disproportionately at risk of harm, including serious youth violence and exploitation. In cases reviewed during multi-agency inspections, 44% of children affected by serious youth violence were found to have an EHC plan or diagnosed disability.
- Missed Educational Opportunities: Delays in receiving tailored support can hinder a child’s ability to engage in learning, leading to academic underachievement and disengagement.
- Mental Health Struggles: Prolonged uncertainty can exacerbate anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges for children and their families.
The Call for Change
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the NAHT, notes that SEND funding has not kept pace with inflation since 2013, leaving schools with real-terms budget cuts. This funding gap limits schools’ ability to provide timely interventions, forcing them to redirect resources from other areas.
To address these issues, experts are calling for:
- Increased Funding: Special schools currently receive £10,000 per pupil. Adjusting this amount to match inflation could help schools better meet growing demand.
- Streamlined Assessments: Reducing waiting times for EHC plans and neurodevelopmental assessments is crucial to prevent further harm.
- Stronger partnerships: Between schools, local authorities, health services, and social care are essential for identifying and addressing SEND needs more effectively.
For more insights on the latest SEN data and how it impacts schools, read the full government report here.